187 - “My Team, My Heroes” - Thissraelle - A Tale of Heroes

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Where am I? 

Where am I going? 

Am I even in control?

The words sliced through her memory like the cold winds swirling the leaves around her. She had said them herself in a dream so long ago. That was a different time, a different life, it seemed. It all had been much simpler back at the monastery. It was safe. She was with friends. She raised her eyes and glanced out from under her cloak’s hood. She looked at Karendle, who was so frustrated and angry, then at Parith, dejected and broken. Korr’s face was questioning, full of uncertainty.

I’m not in control. They’re all looking to me for direction. Even Illariel is confused.

She remembered St Ivarr’s instructions. Find Heathrax. She felt her nose and eyes start to burn, and told herself it was the cold.

I can choose where I go. I’m taking my team to Emberfire! 

Yes. To Emberfire.

My team. 

I’m not giving up. I’m taking my team to Emberfire!

Thissraelle tossed her head back and shook off her hood. The breeze whispered her hair and stung the points of her ears. She straightened her back, stood, and offered her hand to Parith. He looked up, raising an eyebrow. Again, She gestured with her open hand, and, after a moment’s hesitation, he took it. She tugged on him, leaning back and pulling him up to his feet. Then she crossed to Karendle and offered the same help. Korr was already standing when she turned to him. He smiled and asked, “Do you have a plan?”

“Nope!” Thissraelle chirped and blinked her eyes clear. “I have no idea. But we’re going to find Eddiwarth, and I’m taking my team to the Emberfire Mountains!” Korr nodded, and stepped back to the donkeys.

“Heathrax’s Heroes.”

“What?” Thissraelle wasn’t sure who had said that, or what he’d said.

“Heathrax’s Heroes.” Parith said, a bit louder. “It was what Eddiwarth wanted to call us. A team, right? An adventurer’s guild?” Thissraelle smiled and nodded.

“Yeah.” Karendle picked up one of the donkey’s leads and said, “A guild.”

Thissraelle and Karendle exchanged glances before Thissraelle confirmed, “It still sounds stupid, though.” They both broke out laughing.

Thissraelle started to walk back in the direction they had come. Karendle joined her, and Korr moved to follow. Parith did also, but questioned, “Backtracking will put us even farther behind, you know.”

“True, but I was thinking that we might get to a place where we could pick up the real trail. Besides, it’s as good a way as any other, for the moment, isn’t it?” Parith gave a resigned nod and fell in behind Korr.

Illariel cleared her throat. “I can probably help,” she offered. The group stopped to look, surprised, as if they had forgotten she was there.

“Really?” Thissraelle asked. “How?”

“I can ask the forest where he is.” She spoke as if the answer had been obvious. Before Thissraelle could ask what she meant, Illariel began moving from tree to tree, touching the rough bark of the trunk with a familiar and friendly caress. “I don’t know if it will work. It’s winter, and he’s almost asleep.”

Thissraelle looked back at Parith, who shrugged with open hands.

“The forest gives us life, shelter, food. I can feel his kindness in the winds of his breath and the dance of his essence...” She found a tree that seemed to be right and pressed her face to its expansive trunk before reaching her arms wide to embrace it. “Can you feel it in your soul?” She closed her eyes and started humming. “Mmmmm, the song of the forest...”

The group waited, unsure, as she hummed and whistled quietly, all the while holding herself tight to the tree and slowly creeping around it. Finally, she stepped away and, holding her open palms before her, bowed deeply.

When she rose and opened her eyes, Thissraelle stepped to her and touched her arm. Illariel blinked. “The forest knows them and will delay them for us, so we can catch up. We’ll have to hurry, though. They’re being hunted.”

“Hunted? By what?”

Illariel’s eyes betrayed a bit of fear. “By high elves.” She pointed northwest. “We’ll go this way.”

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This continues the story of the heroes in Wynne, in Twynne Rivers, in the world of The Hero's Tale, Family Friendly RPGs. Here's more info on The Hero's Tale, and family friendly RPGing. If you like this story, support us at our Patreon!
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